Published by Crown on 13 Nov 2018
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In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms. Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
Michelle Obama is smart, strong, driven, perceptive, and an excellent story teller. The way she weaves together her values, her accomplishments, personal anecdotes, and social issues is seamless, avoiding sounding too preachy. Even if you're not into politics (tbh, politics go over my head), I would still recommend this memoir.
Even when it's not pretty or perfect. Even when it's more real than you want it to be. Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.
It is told in three parts: "Becoming Me," "Becoming Us," "Becoming More." The first part talks about her life from the South Side of Chicago to her time as a law associate at the prestigious law firm Sidley & Austin. The second part begins when she and Barack start dating, and the third part begins with her as First Lady. Admittedly, "Becoming More" does get a little politic-heavy, which is natural considering the phase in her life that part is covering, but again, her story telling is seamless, and I read it more as an insight into her values and her determination to make a difference.
This is the story of a woman who didn't back down when society told her she couldn't. She worked harder. She made plans and executed them flawlessly. She did everything she was supposed to. She rose from the South Side of Chicago, went to Princeton, then Harvard, and straight to work at Sidley & Austin. She did everything she was suppose to and found that it wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to make a difference in the areas she cared about. And there is so much she cares about. So many she cares about.
His was the lone voice telling me to just go for it, to erase the worries and go toward whatever I thought would make me happy. It was okay to make my leap into the unknown, because... the unknown wasn't going to kill me.
Michelle Obama is an amazing woman and a blessing to us all. She is an inspiration to all of us to have bigger hearts and reach bigger goals.
